Shanghai - Day 3

Saturday, August 2

Today is scheduled to be a big day - the big day - Nick & Karen's Wedding and the reason we are in Shanghai. We have an early start with the Traditional Wedding Tea Ceremony at 9.30 am followed by lunch then the wedding service at 4.00 pm followed by the cocktail reception and then, as the itinerary is worded, "those of us with enough energy can board the special bus for the after party at a Shanghai Night Club". For once we think it's a blessing to be over 60!

After another sumptuous breakfast in the hotel dining room, we returned to our rooms to dress in our outfits "preferably not black or white but with at least a dash of red". We then headed for Nick & Karen's suite where the Tea Ceremony was to be held. Our great niece, Savannah, aged 3 and a half - and the flower girl this afternoon, had a gorgeous little red dress on especially for the Tea Ceremony but was overwhelmed with all the attention and developed acute camera shyness (not augering well for this afternoon). It is traditional in Shanghai for the groom and groomsmen to meet certain challenges set by the bridesmaids before being allowed to enter the room for the Tea Ceremony. If the bridesmaids don't feel the challenges are met well enough, one of the red envelopes containing varying amounts of money and carried by the groomsmen, must be handed over - a novel way for the bridesmaids to recoup some of the costs of their outfits!

Last minute grooming for Savannah before the Tea Ceremony

Even 5 week old Imogen (Savannah's baby sister) had an outfit with "a dash of red"

Nick had to answer a number of questions relating to his and Karen's meeting, dating and engagement. He got one date wrong so had to pay up. The next challenge involved Nick and his groomsmen having to sing and dance to a song chosen by the bridesmaids. In this case, the "Barbie" song was selected and the boys had to put on tu-tu's for their performance. They passed with flying colours but the girls still deemed it necessary for another red envelope to be handed over. Another challenge involved all the boys doing push ups (in their wedding outfits). A number of other challenges followed and after each, the proverbial red envelope was handed over. It seemed quite a lucrative deal for the girls.

Nick and his Groomsmen listen to instructions from the Bridesmaids for their next "challenge"

Preparations for the "Barbie" challenge

After all the frivoloties, the Tea Ceremony began. This was our first sighting of Karen who had been locked away in the bedroom during the "challenges". She was dressed in a glorious red traditional Chinese outfit. She and Nick knelt on the floor and offered tea to her parents seated opposite. The parents reciprocated by handing over another red envelope and giving some encouraging words to the bride and groom. This procedure was repeated for both sets of Karen's grandparents then Nick's parents - Col & Lorraine, and finally with Mum Walker - Nick's nana. By this stage we were all nearly expiring with the heat generated by so many people in the room and were happy to be able to "escape".

Nick & Karen offer tea to Nana (Mum Walker)

There were more formalities for the bride and groom and parents but the rest of us had an hour or so of free time before lunch. Xijiao State Guest Hotel is situated in acres and acres of botanical gardens but, as the weather was so wet, we all passed on the suggested "wander through the gardens" and opted for a cuppa in our room. It was fun being together as family and we all voted the cuppa in our room was the right choice.

In our wedding finery

We lunched in the hotel's bistro then had an hour or so's rest before getting into our wedding finery. We only had a short walk through part of the hotel's grounds to reach the Flowers Ballroom where the wedding and reception were to take place. The decor in the Ballroom was beautiful and the tall table centre pieces of Japanese Maple and trailing white flowers in typical Chinese style looked marvelous. Drinks and canapés were served while we awaited Karen and her attendants' arrival. We were then called to take our seats and the service began in typical western fashion with the groom and groomsmen standing at the front and the bridesmaids entering one by one from the back followed by the bride and her very proud father. Karen looked sensational in a "big" ivory dress. She is a very petite girl so looked really lovely. Her bridesmaids wore very soft, pale green coloured dresses and all carried cream posies. Our niece, Rachael (one of Nick's sisters) was a bridesmaid and she walked hand in hand down the aisle with our great niece, Savannah - the "reluctant photographee!"

Colin & Lorraine - Nick's parents, in the Flowers Ballroom foyer where the service was held

Formal Photo outside the Flowers Ballroom

Everything went without a hitch and it was a really lovely, friendly, informal service. Claire (Nick's other sister and also mother of the flower girl) did the reading so the Aussie side were well represented. All the usual photos followed while we continued to enjoy more champagne and canapés as well as meet our new "Chinese family". We then filed into the reception area where we were introduced to the new Mr & Mrs Walker and their attendants and parents. We were then served an amazing 10 course Chinese/Western meal that even Mum Walker really enjoyed (despite many anxious weeks worrying about "eating Chinese food" and bringing cheese & biscuit packs from Australia - just in case!)

Savannah with some of her "new Aunties"

A special dance - Karen with her dad and Nick with his mum

 

Lots of chatter, dancing and heartfelt speeches followed. Speeches were sub-titled on a screen in either Chinese or English depending on who was speaking. It was a lovely wedding and we were all very glad to have been a part of it. It was great to see Nick and Karen so happy too. We wish them all the very best for their new life together as husband and wife and in their new jobs in Los Angeles.

This wedding caper can all get a bit much when you're only 3 and a half!

Tomorrow we have an 11.30 am start with lunch at a restaurant near Karen's parent's home followed by tea at their home so we are all looking forward to that along with a well-deserved sleep in!

 

 

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